Shipping-box



1. M.`BLANCHARD.

SHIPPING BOX.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. I2, 1917.

. Patented 0st. 28, 1919.

J ULIUS M. BLANCHARD, 0F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

SHIPPING-BOX.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 28, 1919.

Application led November 12, 1917. Serial No. 201,629.

act ldescription.

The invention relates to shipping boxes and more particularly to those in which the v'body or top, bottom and sides are formed of sheet material, such as fiber or corrugated board and the end-pieces are separately formed of similar material andv provided with cleats for interlocking with cleats on the body.

One object of the invention isto vprovide an improved box of this type in which the box-ends areJ removably secured in place by cleats on the end-pieces of the box-sides and in which the cleats on the top or bottom of the box have their ends interlocked with the ends of both the cleats 0n the sides and the ends, so that, as the result of this interlocking, cross cleats on the ends to interlock with the cleats on the top and bottom may be dispensed with.`

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved box of this character which can be produced at a low cost, which is simple in construction and is adapted to withstand severe handling in shipping.

The invention consists in the several novel features hereinafter set forth and more particularly defined by claims at the conclusion hereof.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective of a box embodying the invention, 4one of theends being raised from the remainder of ,the box. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section. Fig. 3 is a1 perspective, upon an enlarged scale, of the interlocking joint between one ofthe cleats on the top of the box and the cleats on one of the ends and sides. Fig. 4 is a detail perspective of one of the cleats attached to one of the sides of the box. Fig. 5 is a detail perspective of one of the cleats on one of the box-ends. Fig. 6 is a vertical sectionV taken on line 6 6 of Fig. 3, when the box is closed.

The sides 4 and 5, bottom 6, top 7 and flap 8 are usually formed of a single piece of corrugated or fiber board properly folded and cut. The front and rear sides of the box have secured to their respective inner faces at each end-margin, a vertical `cleat 9. Each of these vcleats is secured to the fiber or corrugated board body by suitable devices, usually nails 10, which are driven through the board and into the cleats. The outer face 11 of each cleat 9 is substantially flush with the outer edge of the boxside. Each cleat 9 is formed with a dovetail vtongue 12. .The space between each tongue 12 and the bo-x-side to which it is attached, forms a groove 14 disposed within the corner between its inne-r face and the box side, this groove lying Wholly within the cleat 9 and being formed by an obtuse angled edge or surface 13 andan inclined face 13. These grooves 14 are adapted to receive vertical cleats 15 which are secured to the end-pieces 16 which are usually formed of sheet material such as fiber or co-rrugated board. Each cleat 15 is secured to the outer face of an end-piece 16) adjacent its side margin -by nails 17 which are driven through the ber or corrugated board and into the cleat from the inner side of the board. The outer edge 18 of each cleat 15 is substantially 'flush with the edge of the contiguous cleat 9 Which abuts against the boxside and is also flush` with the` adjacent edge. In the cross-section, the cleat conforms substantially to the groove 14 yin one of the cleats 9, being formed with an obtuse angled inner edge 15 conforming to the surface 13 on the cleat 9 and an inclined outer face 15a corresponding to the face 13 on cleat 9. `These inclined surfaces between the cleats 9 and 15 respectively are formed so that each end-piece 16 will be locked against movement longitudinally of the sides and so that the sides will be secured against separating by the box-ends and cleats thereon. A characteristic of this construction is that force applied to spread apart the sides 4 and 5 will subject the end-pieces to tensile stresses only and this results from forming inclined locking surfaces Ibetween the .cleats at y*the inner side of the cleats 9 adjacent the box sides. A further characteristic of this face and at each of its end margins, a horizontal or cross cleat 22. rlhe meeting edges or ends of the cleats 9, 15, 2O and 22 are mutually mitered. At each corner-joint between the horizontal and vertical cleats, cleats 9 and 15 are formed with extensions which together form a tongue 23 which is adapted to extend into a corresponding groove 24E in one of the horizontal cleats, to form an interlocking-connection which pre vents relative movement longitudinally of` the box, between the vertical and horizontal cleats and between the vertical cleats. This construction exemplifies one in which there is an interlocking joint between the horizontal cleats on the box-body and the vertical cleats on the box end, as well as the side cleat on the box sides. A. characteristic of this construction is that the vertical cleats on the box-ends will be securely locked to the cleats on the box-sides and to the cross or horizontal cleats on the body, so that the box, when completed, will be substantially as rigid as when the crosscleats on the box-ends are used.

1n the manufacture of these boxes, the cleats 9, 2O and 22 are usually secured to the end-margins of the body blank and the cleats 15 are secured to the end-pieces or blanks 16 at the factory. The parts are shipped to the user in knock-down condition. To assemble the box for use, it is only necessary to fold theJ sides and bottom into parallel vertical position to receive the end-members. l/Vhen the-cleats 15 have been slipped into operative position in the cleats 9, the several parts of the box will be held in operative position by the end-members and their interlocking connections with the cleats on the bodysblank. To close the box, the cover 7 is folded into position over the body. rl`he intertitting tongue and groove connections between the meeting edges of the horizontal cleats on the box body and the vertical cleats, both on the box sides and the box ends will be securely interlocked to give great rigidity to the box. When the flap 8 is secured in position, there will be a complete interlock between the cleats whereby the box will be held iirm against the usual stresses,

The invention exemplifies a box formed of a blank of sheet material and ends having vertical cleats which are interlocked directly with the cross cleats on the box-body at their meeting edges and also one in which the vertical cleats on the box ends are wholly confined or disposed within the vertical cleats on the box sides, and one which, when assembled, is unusually rigid.

The invention is not to be understood as restricted to the details set forth, since these may be modified within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a box, the combination of a body of sheet material comprising sides, vertical cleats secured to the inner end-margins of the box-sides, box-ends, vertical cleats on the ends, the cleats on the ends and sides having longitudinal interfitting and interlocking portions, `horizontal cleats on the body, and interlocking connections between the meeting ends of the horizontal cleats and the vertical cleats on the box-ends, formed to vsecure the vertical and horizontal cleats against relative movement longitudinally of the body.

2. in a box, the combination of a body of sheet material comprising sides, vertical cleats secured to theJ inner end-margins of the box-sides, box-ends, vertical cleats on the ends, the cleats on the ends and sides having longitudinal interitting and interlocking portions, horizontal cleats on the body, and interlocking connections between the meeting ends of the horizontal cleats and the vertical cleats on the boxends and on the box-sides, formed to secure the vertical and horizontal cleats against relative movement longitudinally of the body.

' 3. ln a box, the combination of a body of sheet material comprising sides, vertical cleats secured to the inner end-margins of the box-sides, box-ends, vertical cleats on the ends, the cleats on the ends and sides having longitudinal intertting and interlocking portions, horizontal cleats on the body, mitered meeting ends between the horizontal cleats and the vertical cleats on the box ends and interlocking, and interiitting tongue and groove connections between said mitered meeting ends formed to secure the vertical and horizontal cleats against relative movement of the body.

4. In a box, the combination of a body of sheet material comprising sides, vertical cleats secured to the inner end-margins of the box sides, boxends, vertical cleats on the ends, cleats on the ends and sides having longitudinal interiitting' and interlocking portions, horizontal cleats on the Ibody, mitered meeting ends between the horizontal cleats and the vertical cleats on the box sides and interlocking and interfitting tongue and groove connections between the mitered ends of the horizontal cleats and the vertical cleats on the ends and sides formed to secure vertical and horizontal cleats against relative movement longitudinally of the body.

5. In a box, the combination of a body of sheet material comprising sides, vertical cleats secured to the inner end margins of the sides, box-ends disposed at the inner faces of the vertical cleats on the sides, and vertical cleats fixed to the outer faces of the end-margins and outer faces of the boxends, the vertical cleats on the sides having grooves at their inner corners adjacent the sides conforming to the vertical cleats on the box ends, the Vertical cleats on the ends and sides thus having longitudinal intertting and interlocking portions including obtuse angled contiguous faces.

7. In a box, the combination of a body of sheet material comprising sides, vertical cleats secured to the inner end margins of the sides, box-ends disposed at the inner faces of said vertical cleats, and vertical cleats fixed to the end-margins and outer faces of the box ends, the vertical cleats on the sides having grooves at their inner corners adjacent the box-sides conforming to the vertical cleats on the box ends, the vertical cleats on the ends and sides having longitudinal interfitting and interlocking portions, including obtuse angled and inclined contiguous surfaces.

8. In a box, the combination of a'body of sheet material comprising sides, vertical cleats secured to the end margins of the sides, box-ends, vertical cleats on the ends, the cleats on the ends and the sides having longitudinal interlocking portions, the cleats on the ends being disposed Wholly Within the cleats on the sides, horizontal cleats on the body, and interfitting and interlocking connections between the meeting ends of all the vertical cleats and the horizontal cleats, formed to secure the vertical and horizontal cleats against relative movement in the body. 9. In a box, the combination of a body of sheet material comprising sides, vertical cleats secured to the end margins of the sides, box-ends, vertical cleats on the ends, the cleats on the ends and the sides having longitudinal interlocking portions, the cleats on the ends being disposed Wholly Within the cleats on the sides, horizontal cleats on the body, and tongue and groove connections between the ends of the hori zontal cleats and the ends of the vertical cleats on the sides and on the ends, formed to secure the vertical and horizontal cleats against relative movement in the body.

JULIUS M. BLANCHARD.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for fivel cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

